Category: Saving Energy

When you are deciding on the main type of heating you will have in your home there are basically four options, gas, oil, solid fuel or electric. More recently there is also the greener option of solar panels and ground or air source heat pumps however these on their own are unlikely to provide all the energy needs for a home.

Energy provided by gas either mains or bottled has been a popular choice for many homeowners partly because mains gas has always been a cheaper option. Many people prefer to cook with gas appliances and find the ability to control gas hob rings better than electric. Gas boilers can provide heating for several radiators and provide instant hot water.

Oil used to be an expensive fuel to use for a household’s energy needs but more recently it has become cheaper as the global price of oil has fallen. It has benefits similar to gas except that an alternative cooking fuel source is needed.

In more recent times there has been much debate about the pollution caused by solid fuel heating, and it is rumoured that it could be banned in the near future.

Using electricity as an energy provider for a home has always been seen as a clean form of heating and cooking. It is easily controllable and modern storage heaters or underfloor heating can be used to provide background heating in every room.

Most homeowners are eager to save money on their electricity and gas bills wherever possible and a simple way that some savings can be made is to look at the type of lighting in the home and whether it is economical in terms of energy efficiency.

The traditional incandescent light bulbs that were a common feature in many homes are expensive to use and do not last very long and so if there are light fittings and lamps in the home which use these bulbs it is a wise move to change the bulbs for energy efficient ones. Although these are more expensive initially there will be a huge saving made over just a few months. LED bulbs are becoming more and more popular as the lighting that they produce can be varied from bright white to warm white effects. They save the homeowner money in two ways firstly by using less electricity to run and secondly because they last longer than a standard bulb.

Further savings can be made by changing light fittings that use three or five bulbs for ones that use a single bulb and wall lights which use two bulbs could also be changed for single bulb varieties.

With going “green” being the new global mantra, home-owners are increasingly switching to power saving mechanisms to minimize household costs. Household electronics and appliances are a lot more energy efficient than they were generations ago. Although, the sheer increase in the quantity of appliances and devices in use throughout the country mean that energy saving still remains a priority for the government. Bigger electronic gadgets and high speed processing computer systems demand larger amounts of energy that will eat into your household budget.

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) has outlined the following checklist for property owners that can help them conserve energy and savings.

Use appliances with the Energy Star labels.

Unplug mobile phone chargers when they have already been fully charged.

If your personal computers or lap top computers come equipped with power conservation equipment, make complete use of them. Refer to the owner’s manual to determine if other electronic equipments in your property offer such power saving features.

If you have finished watching a movie or playing a video game, make certain to switch off the tv monitors and game consoles.

Make sure to plug your television sets and DVD players into power strips. Turn the power strips off if the gadgets are not in use especially over long periods of time.

You can find a variety of new age automation products and services on the market nowadays that make it possible for you to manage heating, lighting and cooling from a central point in the house.

Opt for multi function gadgets instead of buying a single gadget for each and every function. Help save fuel by shopping and banking on line. Talk about part-time telecommuting as being a career option with your employer.